Amitabh Bachchan sees himself as a '<I>chhora Ganga kinarewala</I>' : Bollywood News : ApunKaChoice.Com


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Amitabh Bachchan sees himself as a 'chhora Ganga kinarewala'
28th Jan 2008 13.00 IST
By Agencies

Mega superstar Amitabh Bachchan may be a Bollywood icon but he sees himself quintessentially as a "chhora Ganga kinarewala".

"I may have settled elsewhere but I was always called 'chhora Ganga kinarewala (the boy from the Ganga backwaters'," he said, recalling the lines of the hugely popular song 'Khaike paan Banaraswala...' from the 1970s blockbuster Don .

"Sometimes people criticise me saying that I have settled elsewhere. It is true but I am also from this state ... and so were my forefathers," he said, drawing lusty cheers from the crowd after laying the foundation stone of a college in the name of his daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Daulatpur village of Barabanki district on Sunday.

Wearing a white 'kurta pajama' with a shawl draped over his shoulders, the Big B appeared in a nostalgic mood.

Accompanied by his wife Jaya Bachchan , son Abhishek Bachchan , Ash and actress-turned-politician Jayaprada , he recited excerpts from his late father Harivansh Rai Bachchan's famous poem 'Madhusahala' in his familiar baritone.

The Big B was also at his caustic best when he turned to the battery of TV cameras and journalists and said their "blessings are essential".

"Aap ki kripa rahe to hum sabka uddhar ho sakta hai" (If you people bless us we all will be saved)," he said.

During the function Bachchan said he was willing to be part of charity but would not like to lead any charitable body like American Billionaire Bill Gates.

Bachchan was urged by Third Front leaders Chandrababu Naidu, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh to mobilise charity.

In his address, Naidu urged Bachchan to undertake "charity" to "alleviate poverty".

"What Bill Gates is doing all over the world ... You (Amitabh) mobilise charity in India ... We will follow you," Naidu said.

In response Bachchan said, "I respect his (Naidu) words ... But I don't want to lead it ... I am, however, ready to join it," he said.

Amar Singh said Bachchan commanded huge popularity in all parts of the country and referred to his role in the Pulse Polio campaign.

He urged the megastar to consider the proposal and said it would be the "greatest gift" to him on his birthday on Sunday.

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